Ruff expected to make successful return today

Press, 2 September 1986, Page 34

Ruff expected to make successful return today

By

ALEX McMILLAN

Ruff, which emerged as one of the South Island’s most promising two-year-olds last season, could commence her three-year-old campaign on a successful note when she contests the $lB,OOO D.B. A.L.T. John Grigg Classic, the feature event on the second day of the Ashburton County Racing Club’s meeting at Ashburton today. The daughter of Sound Reason began her debut season auspiciously last term, winning at her first two attempts, and it is in a fresh condition that she will line up today. Her Riccarton trainer, Peter Jones, has not produced her since her gallant second to the talented Crystal Brook in the $25,000 South Island Two-Year-Old Championship Final at Riccarton in April, deciding against giving her a run on the first day of the Ashburton meeting on Saturday. A race in Saturday’s soft conditions could have had a “flattening” effect on the filly and with the likelihood of somewhat firmer footing today she

should prove extremely hard to beat. Ruff will encounter some spirited opposition, however, in today’s event, the first in the 1986-87 South Island Three-Year-Old Championship series. The Wingatui-trained Sea War, an attractive winner on heavy footing at the Grand National meeting, followed up that success with a win on his home course on August 22, again on a “deep” track.

The son of Beaufort Sea, held in high regard by his co-trainers, Arthur and Les Didham, has drawn favourably today and another big run is expected.

Mitchell Sage is sure to be well-supported in his bid to score a “home town” win.

Trained on the Ashburton course by Peter and Dawn Williams, Mitchell Sage, a son of Palatable and the former smart race mare, Blue Sage, made a winning debut at Oamaru last month, disposing of a maiden field with contemptuous ease. He meets considerably tougher opposition today but is unlikely to be

disgraced. Argite, a stablemate of Ruff’s, and the rider of the in-form John Dowling, must be accorded some respect after beating subsequent winner, Last Straw, at the Christchurch Hunt meeting, while the Harris-trained pair, Rakau Tiffany and Rakau Gold, have been performing well enough in recent weeks to be rated, as better than outside chances.

The Grigg is the second leg of the T.A.B. double, the third leg of the T.A.B. treble, and also the T.A.B. trifecta event today. The $BOOO A.I.C. International Ashburton Cup, the first leg of the T.A.B. double and the second leg of the T.A.B. treble, has attracted a rather disappointing field, and Double Lang, an improvers’ third over 1600 m at Oamaru last month, should prove too classy, with Noble Ella and Graikos the obvious threats.

Count Claudio, a decisive winner over 2130 m at Oamaru last time out, stands out in the first leg of the T.A.B. treble, the 2220 m Inglewood Stud Handicap.

Jetbet: 7 Race 1 11.05 CHELANDRY HURDLES $3500; 2800 m 1 1129 Cappiemore 7. 1 . . ... .P. Richards 66.0 2 1402 Paddle 5 . . A. Cowan 65.5 3 7412 Magic Eagle 6 E. Winsloe 64.0 4 2445 Our Guard 9 H. Paterson 63.5 5 2324 Macho Man 8 G. Lord 63.0 6 0763 Acier 10 S. Smith 62.0 8 0068 Bronxville 3 A. Robertson 62.0 9 0069 Fijian Devil 1 C. Edmond 62.0 10 5850 Hotu Hui Lad 13 W. Harnett 62.0 11 3465 111 Afford 4 R. Hewinson62.o 12 5697 Lanaon 12 T. Gibbs 62.0 13 0066 Rusty’s Image 11 S. Belcham62.o Scratched: Aridge. Race 2 11.35 MALAK EL HAWA MAIDEN $2800; 1200 m 1 8 Abbey Queen 3 S. Marr 55.0 2 Alpha Star 19 J. Dowling 55.0 3 0740 Cinda Bella 14 D. Morel 55.0 4 Claudio Satin 12 P. Falvey 55.0 5 3 Con Girl 7 R. Bruce 55.0 6 4460 Dancing Belle 8 C. Crowe 55.0 7 Debbie Mac 1 D. Wadley 55.0 8 8 Koko 9 G. Davison 55.0 9 2263 Lightning Lad 10 C. Johnson 55.0 10 4 Micro Dot 11 ....... .J. Cameronss.o 11 0 Princess Adder 2. . . D. MacMillan 55.0 12 Printz 17 55.0 13 660 Quiet Riot 5 J. Woledge 55.0 14 8 Raynbird 15 55.0 17 695 Stonehaven Lad 16 .... R. Booth 55.0 18 2960 Turi Del 6 P. Atkinson 55.0 19 0505 Winaray 4 . . . J. Fallen 55.0 20 009 Won Fu 20 Z. Mathie 55.0 Emergencies: Princess Adder, Turi Del. Scratched: Robinski, Silver Ribot. Race 3 12.05 THE SIR BART $3000; 1600 m 1 0506 Ann Bell 8 D. Frye 55.0 2 4870 Ar Jay 12 G. Davison 55.0 3 0732 Beaualan 3 C. Crowe 55.0 4 9200 Double Time 9 R. Booth 55.0 5 5243 Jazemay 1 R. McCann 55.0 6 0040 King of Charm 11 S. Reid 55.0 7 13 Kutati’s Style 7 R. Bruce 55.0 8 0040 La Bryra 14 J. Jamieson 55.0 9 9221 Maestri 2 J. Dowling 55.0 10 1000 Pacific Fair 5 C. Johnson 55.0 11 2109 Remus Lad 10 C. Edmond 55.0 12 8052 Scorsby 13 D. Wadley 55.0 13 3642 Southern Style 4 J. Cameron 55.0 14 0040 Vitzburg 6 J. Woledge 55.0 Race 4 12.40 EUPHRONIUS MAIDEN NO. 1 $2800; 1600 m 1 9503 Benlea Boy 6 J. Dowling 55.0 2 0004 Charlie Trelay 1 D. Frye 55.0 3 7220 Dorisko 13 R. McCann 55.0 5 6747 Four Figures 14 P. Richards 55.0 6 00 Gold Town 8 A. Robinson 55.0 7 0 Jolly Rae 7 G. Davison 55.0 8 9060 Like A Memory 11 55.0 9 405 Noble Lyric 9 L. Didham 55.0 10 0900 Princetown 2 . D. Morel 55.0 11 000 Royal Deficit 4 C. Edmond 55.0 12 7909 Run for the Roses 10 . .J. Jameison 55.0 13 0 Stable Star 12 C. Johnson 55.0 14 07 Trelay’s Empire 3 P. Falvey 55.0 Scratched: Fenderlyn Beau. Race 5 T 1.10 INGLEWOOD STUD HANDICAP $3600; 2220 m 1 1006 Irish Castle 2 C. Crowe 56.0 2 5191 Count Claudio 7 G. Taylor 55.0

3 4710 Irish Indian 1 J; Dowling 55.5 4 7008 Pantless 5 J. Cameron 54.5 5 6330 Rock On 3 D. Morel 54.0 6 0305 Arioo 4 J. Woledge 53.5 7 6876 Ampac 8 G. Davison 52.5 8 0069 Fijian Devil 6 ...... .P. Atkinson 51.5 Race 6 T 1.45 AJ.C. INTERNATIONAL ASHBURTON CUP $8000; 2220 m. 1 7844 Soaring High 5 R. Bruce 55.0 Has been racing only fairly lately but has good middle-distance record and might take beating if ground soft 3 2008 Gay King 3 R. Booth 54.0 Soundly beaten in metric mile on Saturday when having second start in a fresh campaign. Getting on in years but always a chance on winter tracks 4 0010 Apprize 9 C. Johnson 53.0 Beat metric-milers at Oamaru last month but weak showing in corresponding event here on Saturday. 5 1763 Double Lang 4 R. McCann 52.0 One of most consistent middle-distance performers last season. Shaped as if he might be getting close to peak again with last-start third against metric-milers at Oamaru. 6 4216 Graikos 7 G. Davison 52.0 Run down late after being in, or close to the pace, throughout in metric-mile on Saturday. All-the-way win at previous start was over 2000 m. at Grand National meeting. 7 2000 Young Nick 8 J. Cameron 52.0 Winner at Washdyke in July, but form this season has been disappointing. Failed to flatter at any stage of Saturday’s metric mile. 8 0072 Ariage 2 S. Reid 51.0 Not noted for his consistency but must rate chance here on the strength of his bold finish for second in metric mile on Saturday. 9 6872 Noble Ella 10 C. Bain 50.5 Last-start second to Kinkajou over 2200 m at Wangatui last Friday’s week. Has previously won at this distance on the course, but not at this level. 10 4719 Applicate 1 J. Jameison 49.0 Win, two starts back, was as a hurdler at Grand National meeting. Scratched: Royal Adder. Race 7 D, T, TF 2.15 D.B. A.L.T. JOHNS GRIGG CLASSIC $18,000; three-year-olds; 1410 m 1 0014 Argite 13 J. Dowling 55.5 Upset winner over 1200 m at Christchurch Hunt meeting in August. Solid fourth last time out at Grand National meeting and not the worst. 2 6 Bolton 6 P. Richards 55.5 Likely to be outclassed in this. 3 Claudio Minor 10 C. Edmond 55.5 Unknown quality 5 1 Mitchell Sage 9 G. Davison 55.5 Highly impressive winner when making debut at Oamaru last month. Trained on the course and hard to beat. 6 5293 Rakau Gold 11 J. Cameron 55.5 Battling third in 1200 m maiden event on first day. Promising. 7 035 Rakau Reelton 5 D. Frye 55.5 Maiden which might struggle in this. 8 7754 Real Pronto 8 C. Johnson 55.5 Looked promising last season but rcent efforts only fair. 9 6311 Sea War 2 L. Didham 55.5 Well-regarded youngsters which has scored effortless wins in his two most recent outings, at Riccarton and Wingatui. Hard to beat again.

109146 Save 1 A. Robinsonss.s Resumed with a distant sixth over 1200 m behind Kallista over 1200 m on first day. Won three races last season 11 4010 The Last Supper 4. ... J. Woledgess.s Easy winner at Christchurch Hunt meeting but failed badly in only start at Grand National meeting. 12 3711 Rakau Tiffany 7 D. Morel 53.0 Impressive wins in last two outings, at Washdyke and Riccarton. Tough assignment here but respected. 13 3712 Ruff 12 T. Matthews 53.0 Talented filly which has not raced since April. Won three of her seven starts last season and hard to beat 14 0085 Tropical Blend 3 R. Bruce 53.0 Resumed with a useful fifth over this distance on Saturday. Speedy and could take catching. Scratched: Dorisko. Race 8 2.50 ASHBURTON MAZDA HANDICAP $4500; 1410 m 1 1507 Famillion 3 G. Davison 56.0 2 1103 Bacton Abbey 4 R. McCann 55.0 3 5132 Kiss Me Kate 1 P. Richards 54.5 4 2821 Rufus Dawes 8 T. Matthews 54.5 5 Windvale Gae 2 G. Taylor 54.5 6 1317 Puffaamoke 5 C. Johnson 54.0 7 6839 Adios King 7 J. Jamieson 53.5 8 4007 Almagelee 6 R. Booth 53.0

EUPHRONIUS MAIDEN NO. 2 $2800; 1600 m 1 0 Bridgie’s Pride 8 P. Atkinson 55.0 2 00 Coatbridge I Z. Mathie 55.0 3 320 Elizabethan 5 ....... G. Davison 55.0 4 6500 Fermoy 10 D. Morel 55.0 5 435 Funny Settler 11 D. Wadley 55.0 6 2000 Jemarac 9. . A. Robertson 55.0 7 07 King Solvent 14 R. Bruce 55.0 8 4389 Noble Brizard 6 A. Robinson 55.0 9 7730 Noel’s Choice 2 J. Woledge 55.0 10 Quick Dance 12 . . . . T. Matthews 55.0 11 3070 Royal Master 7 L. Didham 55.0 12 8532 Sea Bride 13 C. Johnson 55.0 14 6090 Wattle’s Boy 3 J. Dowling 55.0 Scratched: Torchstar. Race 10 3.55 RICCARTON STUD HANDICAP $3300; 1410 m 1 2313 The Mean Machine 2 . T. Matthews 55.5 2 1602 Borrisokane 10 G. Davison 55.0 3 1542 Golden Time 9 C. Johnson 55.0 4 5652 Kyolic 13 ' C. Crowe 55.0 5 2034 Schwepping 1 P. Falvey 55.0 6 1080 Aussie Bound 8 A. Atkinson 54.5 7 4798 Miss Isabel 11 J. Dowling 54.5 8 0196 Rhydhal 12 G. Taylor 54.5 9 4143 Sir Reggie 7 S. Davidson 54:5 10 0305 Annandale 3 R. Booth 53.5 11 2000 Tuahiwi Daisy 4 D. Morel 53.0 12 7400 Hauraki Rocket 5 J. Woledge 52.5 13 0008 Lontigre 6 D. Wadley 52.5